Pipe-cleaner.



J. M. SIMMONS.

PIPE CLEANER APPLICATION FILED MAR.29,1911.

999,346. Pa ented Aug. 1, 1911.

rig/J Witnsss J Inventor Attorneys 'ALIIMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50.. WASHINGTON,n. c.

UNHE earns ea ear re.

JAMES M. SIMMONS, OF WICI-IITA, KANSAS.

PIPE-CLEANER.

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Application filed March 29, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful PipeCleaner, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to smoking pipes, and more especially to thecleaners therefor; and the object of the same is to produce a manuallyoperated and conveniently located air pump whose suction end is adaptedfor making quick and close contact with either the bowl or the stem of asmoking pipe. This object is carried out by constructing the device ashereinafter more fully de scribed and claimed, and as shown in thedrawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of this device complete,parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section ofits suction end. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the component parts ofsuch end.

The body or pump portion of this device comprises a barrel 3 secured atone end as at l to a suitable support, a piston rod 7 extending throughthe head of said barrel and having a handle 8, and a piston 9 at theinner end of this rod. Said piston may have a valve closing in onedirection if it is desired to create air pressure, or closing in theother direct-ion if it is desired to create a vacuum, but perhaps asimpler and equally serviceable arrangement is to have the pistonwithout any valve so that air pressure could be created by depressingthe piston and a vacuum could be created by raising it. With the lowerend of the barrel communicates a pipe 5 preferably leading up outsidethe barrel and making an elbow 6 at a convenient height from the floorwhen the pump stands upright as shown, and to the end of said elbow isattached the coupling or suction end of my device which forms the gistof the present invention.

The suction end is composed of the three elements best seen in Fig. 3.The numeral 10 designates the body element having a collar 11 at itsrear end connected with the elbow 6 and an opening 12 through its axiscommunicating with the pipe 5; and this member is formed with ahemispherical socket 13 in its front end and with threads 14 around itsbody and is made of metal. The numeral 15 designates a collar havinginternal threads 16 adapted to engage those Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

Serial No. 617,772.

on the body member, and having around its outer end an inturned flange17 leaving its extremity Wide open in a mouth of considerable size asshown. The numeral 20 designates a gasket which is preferably a solidpiece of rubber excepting for an opening 21 through its center as shown.In shape this gasket may be said to be hemispherical and of a size tofit the socket in the body member, and around its edge is a radiallyproectmg flange 24;. The parts are assembled as best seen in Fig. 2,when the body of the gasket fits the socket in the body member, itsflange rests against the extremity of said member, and the flange of thecollar clamps it in place and holds all parts together.

In operation the smoking pipe or other article to be cleansed has themouth of its bowl or one of its extremities pressed against the exposedface of the gasket by hand, whereby the material of said gasket will becompressed or embedded slightly and a practical air-tight connectionwill be made between it and said mouth. With the other hand the operatorthen manipulates the handle of the pump to create air pressure or airsuction according as he desires to blow air through the pipe or to suckair out of it, and it will be found that with the parts proportionedabout as shown an extremely strong blast of air can beset up in eitherdirection. Or if the pump be without valves the piston can be movedfirst in one direc tion and then in the other, and the result will bethat any sediment that may have lodged within the pipe will be dislodgedin either one direction or the other. If it be desired to clean the stemof the pipe, the same can be inserted into the bore of the gasket, andthe elastic material of which it is composed will cause it to contractaround said stem and make a practically air-tight joint between them.Then the air pressure or air suction device is manipulated in the mannerabove described, and the stem can also be cleansed quickly and freedfrom any obstruction that may exist therein.

I do not limit myself to the precise details of parts other than ashereinafter mentioned, nor to the materials and proportions although Iprefer the relative sizes shown. It will be of convenience to thetobacconist to have this pump secured to the floor in rear of hiscounter, at any convenient point, so that when a customer calls with apipe that has become fouled or stopped up he can take it and press itsbowl against or insert its stem into the gasket, and with a fewmanipulations of the handle of the pump he can clean the same thoroughlyand quickly. However I do not desire to be confined to this specific useof the device.

WVhat is claimed as new is 2- 1. In a pipe cleaner, the combination witha pump, and a pipe leading therefrom; of a suction end comprising a bodymember having a socket in its face and a central opening therethrough,said opening being in communication with said pipe, a collar adapted toengage said body member, and a gasket of compressible material adaptedto fit in the socket of said body member and be clamped thereon by thecollar, said 'asket having an opening in alinement with the opening ofthe body member.

2. In a pipe cleaner, the combination with a pump, and a pipe leadingtherefrom; of a suction end comprising a body member having ahemispherical socket in its face and a central opening from the bottomof said socket connected with said pipe, said mem ber being externallythreaded, a collar having internal threads adapted to engage those onsaid member and having an inturned flange around its front end, and agasket of soft rubber having a hemispherical body of a size to fit thesocket in said body member and a radial flange to be clamped betweensaid member and the flange of said collar, the gasket having an openingcommunicating with that in the body memher, the whole for usesubstantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. SIMMONS.

Witnesses:

C. W. SIMMONS, J. J. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

